Liriodendron plant named ‘Little Volunteer’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Liriodendron  plant named ‘Little Volunteer’ that is characterized by very dwarf habit, having overall dimensions which are approximately one-third of the dimensions of the species, and thereby setting ‘Little Volunteer’ apart from all other varieties of  Liriodendron  known to the inventor.

Genus: Liriodendron. Species: tulipfera.

Denomination: ‘Little Volunteer’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/880,852 filed on Jan. 16, 2007, entitled Liriodendron Plant named ‘Little Volunteer’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Liriodendron commonly known as Tulip Tree or Tulip Poplar, which is grown as an ornamental tree for use in street plantings and in residential landscapes. The new cultivar is known botanically as Lirodendron tulipfera and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Little Volunteer’.

‘Little Volunteer’ was discovered and selected in Spring 2001 by the inventor at the inventor's nursery in Belvidere, Tenn. as a single naturally occurring plant with novel dwarf habit which the inventor found growing within the inventor's seed-grown crop of Liriodendron. The inventor is unable to identify either the male or the female parent.

‘Little Volunteer’ exhibits dwarf habit compared to the typical species. Mature trees of ‘Little Volunteer’ are approximately ⅓ the size of a typical Liriodendron tulipfera specimen which reaches a mature size of 30 feet in height and 20 feet in width. The closest known cultivar known to the inventor is the cultivar Liriodendron ‘Ardis’ (unpatented). The leaf shape of ‘Little Volunteer’ is more typical of the species and maintains a central leader better than ‘Ardis’.

‘Little Volunteer’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in Belvidere, Tenn. in Fall 2002. Asexual propagation was accomplished by grafting ‘Little Volunteer’ onto seedling understock. Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Little Volunteer’ have been determined stable and uniform, and are reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Liriodendron cultivar ‘Little Volunteer’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Little Volunteer’ from all other varieties of Liriodendron known to the inventor. ‘Little Volunteer’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, without however any change in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Little Volunteer’ is a very dwarf form of Liriodendron.     -   2. The plant shape of ‘Little Volunteer’ is rounded pyramidal.     -   3. After four years growth from a transplanted liner plant,         ‘Little Volunteer’ achieves a height of 4 meters and a width of         2 meters, and an average trunk diameter of 60 mm.     -   4. The dimensions of the foliage of ‘Little Volunteer’ are         approximately one-third of the dimensions of the species or         known cultivars of Liriodendron.     -   5. ‘Little Volunteer’ grows well in moist well-drained soils in         full sun to partial shade.     -   6. ‘Little Volunteer’ is hardy to USDA Zone 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Liriodendron variety ‘Little Volunteer’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘Little Volunteer’.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 shows a four year old plant of ‘Little Volunteer’ growing in the field in Belvidere, Tenn. The drawing illustrates the rounded pyramidal shape of ‘Little Volunteer’. The plant depicted is approximately 4 meters in height and 2 meters in width.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 illustrates the exceptionally small foliage of ‘Little Volunteer’. All of the leaves shown in the drawing are leaves of ‘Little Volunteer’ except for the single leaf which is hand-held and which has been taken from a nearby plant of the species Liriodendron, of similar age.

The drawing labeled FIG. 3 shows a comparison of the leaves of ‘Little Volunteer’, a typical Liriodendron tulipfera, and ‘Ardis’.

All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘Little Volunteer’. Data was collected from plants approximately 4 years old from initial budding grown in out of doors in Raleigh, N.C. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions are typical to other Liriodendron.

-   Botanical classification: Liriodendron. -   Species: tulipfera. -   Common name: Tulip tree. -   Commercial classification: Deciduous tree. -   Use: Landscape plant. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent plant.—Unknown.         -   Male parent plant.—Unknown. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact pyramidal.         -   Plant dimensions (after first year).—Approximately 1.3 m in             height and 0.75 m in width.         -   Plant dimensions (after four years from a transplanted liner             plant).—4 m in height and a width of 2 m, and an average             trunk diameter of 60 mm.         -   Estimated plant dimensions at maturity.—9 m in height and 6             m in width.         -   Plant hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 to 9.         -   Type.—Deciduous tree.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by budding or             grafting.         -   Cultural requirement.—Moist well-drained soils in full sun             to partial shade.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance of note.         -   Branching habit.—Ascending. -   Trunk:     -   -   Dimensions.—2-2.5 m in height, 60 mm in diameter at 10 cm             above ground level.         -   Bark surface.—Smooth, becoming furrowed with rough rounded             ridges with age.         -   Color.—198C.         -   Lenticels.—None present. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Current season, 200D; previous season, 197A.         -   Branch surface.—Smooth.         -   Diameter.—4 cm.         -   Internode distance.—Ranges from 5 mm to 15 mm.         -   Lenticels.—None present. Foliage:         -   Type.—Deciduous.         -   Leaf buds.—Terminal buds present in winter, 1.0-1.5 cm in             length, 0.8-1.2 cm in width.         -   Shape.—Flattened, valvate.         -   Color.—177A.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Rounded to obovate. Arrangement: Alternate             Division: Simple Margins: Entire. Dimensions: 4 cm to 6.5 cm             in length and 5 cm to 7.75 cm in width. Apex: Truncate.             Base: Cordate to truncate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Vein             color (adaxial): 144C. Vein color (abaxial): 150D. Margin             type: Entire. Leaf surface (adaxial and abaxial): Glabrous.             Mature leaf color (adaxial): 139A. Mature leaf color             (abaxial): 146C. Young leaf color (adaxial): 139A. Young             leaf color (abaxial): 147C. Leaf attachment: Petiolate.             Petiole dimensions: 5.5 cm to 6.25 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter. Petiole surface: Glabrous. Petiole color: 144B. -   Inflorescence: None observed. No plants of ‘Little Volunteer’ have     produced flowers at time of filing this application. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Liriodendron plant named ‘Little Volunteer’ as described and illustrated herein. 